Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics

of the

Student Government Association

of

Stetson University

Preamble

We, the members and officers of the Stetson University Student Government Association, do hereby pledge ourselves to this Code of Ethics. We intend to lead by serving the interests, needs, and wants of our fellow students; by maintaining a superior level of conduct that enables us to claim the mantle as effective, trustworthy leaders; by pledging ourselves to accountability if we transgress that which is reasonable, upright, and productive in the execution of our duties.

Section I. Ethical Standards for Senators

i.Senators are to adhere to their duties as outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws.

ii.Senators are to always act in the best interest of the student body. They shall make every reasonable attempt to fulfill their duties in good faith and with full regard for the welfare of others.

iii.Senators are to be forthright, honest, and fully transparent in their communications with their constituents. They shall never knowingly misrepresent the truth in their capacity as a representative of the Association.

iv.Senators are to conduct themselves in a professional manner when interacting as a representative of the Student Government Association or Stetson University.

v.Senators are to maintain respect for the University, its employees, their fellow public servants, and themselves.

vi.Senators are prohibited from bestowing favors, making undue use or influence of powers of office, or offer special considerations of any kind in exchange for anything of material or intrinsic value.

vii.Senators are prohibited from misusing, mismanaging, or misappropriating their position and/or equipment, facilities, or funds of the Association.

Section II. Ethical Standards for Executive Officers

i.Officers are to adhere to their duties as outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws.

ii.Officers are to always act in the best interest of the student body and the Student Senate of the Association for whom they serve. They shall make every reasonable attempt to fulfill their duties in good faith and with full regard for the welfare of others.

iii.Officers are to be forthright, honest, and fully transparent in matters of public record and coming changes to the University with the Student Senate and each other.

iv.Officers are to conduct themselves in a professional manner when interacting as a representative of the Student Government Association or Stetson University.

v.Officers are to maintain respect for the University, its employees, their fellow public servants, and themselves.

vi.Officers are prohibited from bestowing favors, making undue influence of powers of office, of offer special considerations of any kind in exchange for anything of material or intrinsic value.

vii.Officers are prohibited from misusing, mismanaging, or misappropriating their position and/or equipment, facilities, or funds of the Association.

viii.Officers are to put the wishes of the student body as expressed through resolutions of the Student Senate before their personal agendas. They shall work diligently to enact legislation in a timely manner after its passage.

Section III. Ethical Standards for Chair and Members of the Electoral Committee

i.The Chair and members of the Electoral Committee are to adhere to their duties as outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws.

ii.The Chair and members of the Electoral Committee are to act as unbiased representatives of legitimacy and constitutional authority in the student government. They are to represent the continued stability of a government in transition

iii.The Chair and members of the Electoral Committee are to be forthright, honest, and fully transparent in their communications with any and all members of the Stetson community with regard to elections.

iv.The Chair and members of the Electoral Committee will maintain the highest respect for the institution of student government.

v.The Chair and members of the Electoral Committee are strictly forbidden from bestowing favors, making undue use or influence of powers of office, or offer special considerations of any kind in exchange for anything of material or intrinsic value.

vi.The Chair and members of the Electoral Committee must pledge to uphold the Elections Code upon acceptance of service.

Section IV. Provisions for Alleging a Violation

i.Any member of the Association is qualified to bring forth an allegation of wrongdoing against another member of the Association during Special Orders of any regular meeting of the Student Government Association.

a.If the complaining member is the President Pro Tempore, they shall yield their presiding powers to the Chair of the Committee on Values and Ethics and then to the Legislative Committee Chair listed first in alphabetical order by Title of office.

b.If the complaining member is the President Pro Tempore and the accused violator of the Code of Ethics is a Legislative Committee Chair, they shall be automatically removed from consideration for presiding over the Senate.

c.If there is a complaint made against the President Pro Tempore, they shall yield their presiding powers to the Legislative Committee Chair listed first in alphabetical order.

d.No member of the Association may make complaints against themselves.

ii.Allegations of violating the Code of Ethics must be made before the full Senate in the form of an official letter outlining the allegation and providing at least one form of evidence listed herein: Original photograph(s), unedited video, email or other official correspondence, certification of a violation of the Student Handbook by the Dean of Students, any other original documents or content that may serve as proof that a violation has occurred.

iii.After the letter is read to the Senate by the complaining member, a majority vote shall be required to move into a formal hearing of the alleged violation. If a formal hearing is authorized, the Senate shall enter a closed session and guests shall be asked to clear the chamber.

iv.The Senate shall enter a period of debate on the alleged violation. The accused member or member(s) shall be called upon to provide testimony on the events cited as violations. They are entitled to face their accuser, to engage in an open discussion directly with them before the Senate and to speak in their own defense before other members of the body may speak. Upon speaking in their own defense and engaging their accuser, the Senate shall be permitted to debate the matter.

v.Discussion of the alleged violation of the Code of Ethics shall not conclude before every member of the Association who wishes to speak has spoken at least once.

vi.A majority vote shall be required to recognize that a violation of the Code of Ethics has occurred.

vii.In the event that the Senate recognizes a violation to the Code of Ethics has occurred, the next order of business shall be sanctioning the member responsible. Members of the Association shall put forth formal recommendations based on the sanctions outlined herein.

a.When making formal recommendations, members must specify the duration for which privileges shall be suspended if at all.

b.Multiple sanctions may be recommended as a single punishment for a violation of the Code of Ethics.

viii.A majority vote for any one of the sanctions shall be required for it to be recognized as binding. The presiding officer may, however, show leniency and pronounce judgment in the form of a less severe sanction. It is the right of any member to appeal the decision of the Chair if the body’s decision is overruled. A two-thirds vote shall be required to reenact the original sanction.

ix.Sanctions take immediate effect upon the Senate’s agreement.

x.The Senate shall move back into its regular business at the conclusion of the hearing.

Section V. Sanctions for Senators

i.Sanctions are binding in both meetings of the Senate and all committees under the direction of the Association.

ii.Only the following sanctions outlined herein shall be considered as valid punishments for violations of the Code of Ethics: Censure, Suspension of Voting Privileges, Suspension of Speaking Privileges, Expulsion from a Specific Office, Expulsion from the Association.

a.Censure: A statement of official commendation for violating the rules, policies, and procedures of the Association. A censure has no formal penalty other than simply stating a violation has occurred.

b.Suspension of Speaking Privileges: Senators shall be barred from speaking for a time specified by the Senate. They may, however, vote on all matters.

c.Expulsion from a Specific Office: If a Senator is serving in an additional capacity as a Legislative Committee Chair, a member of the Electoral Committee, as a Director within the Association, President Pro Tempore, Clerk of the Senate, or Parliamentarian, they may be dismissed from their duties. They will retain the right to serve as a Senator, however.

d.Expulsion from the Association: If a Senator is punished in this way, their rights, duties, and powers shall be immediately revoked.

Section VI. Sanctions for Executive Officers

i.Only the following sanctions outlined herein shall be considered as valid punishments for violations of the Code of Ethics: Censure, Expulsion from a Specific Office, Expulsion from the Association.

a.Censure: A statement of official commendation for violating the rules, policies, and procedures of the Association. A censure has no formal penalty other than simply stating a violation has occurred.

b.Expulsion from a Specific Office: If an Officer is punished in this way, they shall be dismissed from their duties. They may, however, join the Association as a Senator.

c.Expulsion from the Association: If an Officer is punished in this way, their rights, duties, and powers shall be immediately revoked, and they shall be additionally barred from service as a Senator.

Section VII. Amendments

i.An amendment to this document must be considered by the committee on policy reform.

ii.Amendments to the document require a two-thirds vote by the senate.